Adoption Makes Family

Adoption Makes Family places children through our Domestic Program. Our home studies are used for both domestic and international adoptions. We conduct home studies for families who are adopting either through Adoption Makes Family or through any other agency, whether for domestic or international adoption.

For clients who are interested in International adoptions, we have developed relationships with agencies who have proven success in placing children from a variety of different countries. If you are interested in International adoption, your home study social worker can speak with you about different agencies you may want to explore.

For international adoption home studies, there are specific guidelines that must be followed as set forth by the Hague Convention on International Adoption. It is best to first check whether a country is participating in the Hague. Here is a link to the participating countries. http://travel.state.gov/family/abduction/hague_issues/hague_issues_1487.html.

As is the case with most home study agencies, Adoption Makes Family is not accredited with the Hague Convention. However, we are still able to conduct home studies for families who are adopting internationally. We do this by signing an agreement with your Hague accredited placing agency. This meets the requirements of the Hague Convention. We suggest that you contact your agency and ask them to forward their home study partnership agreement to us. We will sign it and forward it back to your agency.

To adopt internationally, a home study is necessary. The family adoptive family submits a completed home study and an I800A (if you are adopting from a Hague accredited country.) If you are adopting from a non Hague accredited country, you would submit your home study with an I600A. Upon arrival at the United States Embassy in the country where you are adopting, you will present your documents along with your I800A or I600A.

Below are more details about international adoption taken from the USCIS website. We recommend that you visit the site yourself to gain a full and complete understanding of the rules and guidelines for international adoption.

The I-600A is the first form you will fill out with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This form is completed before an orphan is located or has been identified for an adoption by you. Do NOT confuse this form with the I-600 form which is the Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative.

Eligibility

You must be a U.S. Citizen. In the case of a married couple one of the spouses must be a U.S. Citizen.
The prospective parent is 25 years of age or older; or one of the partners within a marriage is 25 years of age or older.
The following must be sent with the completed I-600A form:

A birth certificate to show proof of citizenship. If unable to obtain a birth certificate; a copy of the baptismal certificate under the seal of the church showing place of birth.

The baptism must have taken place within two months of the birth. If this is not possible, affidavits of two U.S. citizens who have knowledge of the applicants birth in the United States. Naturalization papers or a valid U.S. passport will also work.

Proof of marriage and the proof of ended previous marriages. Photocopies of divorce decrees, death certificates, and the marriage license will fill this requirement.

Completed home study with a recommendation by the state agency. Be sure to use a social worker or agency that understands the guidelines needed to be met with international adoptions. Different information is needed with an international adoption than with a domestic adoption.

Fingerprints of all adults over the age of 18 who reside in the home. After filing of the form; the INS will notify the petitioners with the time and place to be fingerprinted. Do not miss this appointment - it could mean a denial of your petition.

Payment of the petition and fingerprinting fee per person. One check can be used for the entire sum (filing fee and fingerprint fee) made payable to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Check with your adoption agency or the USCIS for updated fee amounts.

File the I-600A with your local USCIS District or Sub-Office. See the USCIS page for locations. Scroll down to the I-600A where you can also find a printable I-600A form. You can NOT file electronically.

I-171H - Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition

After your I-600A is approved the USCIS will send you the I-171H. It's a good idea to have a copy of this sent to the consulate in the country you plan to adopt from.

Note: Your approved I-600A remains valid for 18 months. Your fingerprints remain valid for only 15 months.